Grantee Research Project Results

2022 Progress Report: A cross-regional, cross-laboratory investigation of viral pathogens and surrogates in wastewater for non-potable reuse

EPA Grant Number: R840257
Title: A cross-regional, cross-laboratory investigation of viral pathogens and surrogates in wastewater for non-potable reuse
Investigators: Jiang, Sunny C. , Goel, Ramesh , Yan, Tao , Solo-Gabriele, Helena , Sherchan, Samendra , Whiteson, Katrine , Rosso, Diego , Bischel, Heather N
Institution: University of California - Irvine , University of California Davis , University of Miami , Tulane University , University of Hawaii, Manoa , University of Utah
EPA Project Officer: Ludwig-Monty, Sarah
Project Period: August 1, 2021 through July 31, 2024 (Extended to July 31, 2025)
Project Period Covered by this Report: August 1, 2021 through July 31,2022
Project Amount: $1,240,000
RFA: Viral Pathogen and Surrogate Approaches for Assessing Treatment Performance in Water Reuse (2021) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water Treatment

Objective:

1) identify a suite of viral pathogens and surrogates, and their detection methods that may best serve as the indication of viral risk in water reuse; 2) compare viral pathogen and surrogate detection methods in wastewater by different labs in order to develop a set of Standard Operational Protocols (SOP) that can be adopted as standard methods by water utilities; 3) apply the SOPs to wastewater samples collected from wastewater reclamation plants across the U.S., from Miami to Hawaii, at different seasons and treatment processes to identify the best markers for viral risk in water reuse; 4) develop Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models to predict infectious viruses in the effluent using pathogen/surrogate and treatment conditions; and 5) integrate the outcomes from the cross-regional and cross-laboratory study into quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) models to estimate health risk from exposure to the water for non-potable reuse.

Progress Summary:

Organized a “Viral Surrogates for Water Reuse” workshop that is participated by water utilities, water engineering consulting firms and research team members to identify a suite of viral pathogens and surrogates, and their detection methods that may best serve as the indication of viral risk in water reuse.
Compared viral pathogen and surrogate detection methods in wastewater by different labs and developed a set of draft Standard Operational Protocols (SOP) for field testing.
Developed sampling plans for wastewater sample collections from wastewater reclamation plants across the U.S., from Miami to Hawaii, at different seasons.

Future Activities:

Carry out pilot testing of sample storage conditions for coliphage infectivity assay.
Carry out coliphage infectivity assay from wastewater reclamation plants across the U.S., from Miami to Hawaii, at different seasons.
Compare viral concentration and storage conditions by multiple laboratories to understand methods variability in viral and viral surrogate assay
Compare results of genetic analyses of target viral surrogates identified in year I project by participating laboratories
Perform statistical analysis to identify the relationships between viral surrogates and seasonal, geographical locations as well as WWTPs characteristics
Optimize methods for direct counting of viruses using flow cytometry as a rapid measurements of viral removal
Build the structure of Artificial Neural Network and perform the analysis between wastewater characteristics and viral surrogates
Gather data and carry out quantitative microbial risk assessment

Journal Articles on this Report : 2 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views
Other project views:	All 6 publications	6 publications in selected types	All 6 journal articles

Publications
Type	Citation	Project	Document Sources
Journal Article	Li D, Quon H, Ervin J, Jiang S, Rosso D, Van De Werfhorst L, Steets B, Holden P. Modeled and measured SARS-CoV-2 virus in septic tank systems for wastewater surveillance. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2023;21(9):1242-1256	R840257 (2022)	Full-text from PubMed Full-text: Water & Health - Abstract.HTML Exit
Journal Article	Quon H, Jiang S. Decision making for implementing non-traditional water sources: a review of challenges and potential solutions. NJP CLEAN WATER 2023;6(1):56	R840257 (2022)	Full-text: Nature - Full Text HTML Exit

Supplemental Keywords:

coliphage, infectivity, viral concentration, genetic analysis, Flow Cytometry, artificial neural network, quantitative microbial risk assessment

Relevant Websites:

UCI WEX Center Exit

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.